Militants holding a Filipino hostage say they will free him when "the last Filipino leaves Iraq on a date that doesn't go beyond the end of this month," according to a statement read by the Arabic-language news network Al-Jazeera.

This is just sad, and horribly dangerous. The proper response to people who kidnap innocents and chop their heads off is not to pack your bags and go home. When are people going to realize that these are not conscientious freedom fighters...they're radical, depraved thugs who must be confronted.

Are the actions of the Filipino government going to put more, or fewer, innocent lives in danger?